About this book

Introduction

The author, a leading and influential critic of Thomas Hardy, brings together for the first time essays representing both his major critical work over the last fifteen years and three entirely new pieces. This volume allows readers to test the force of Widdowson's critical polemic in undispersed form. Readable, engaged and, no doubt, often infuriating, this is a book for all those who still regard Hardy as 'our contemporary'.